Here are my top available prospects in Arizona's 2019 senior class to watch for this high school season. There are still loads of players still on the recruiting board for college programs to pursue. There are two parts to this story, as a result of the large number of prospects still available this spring (In no particular order) . . .
Carlos Ramsey 6-4 SR SG AZ Compass Prep (Phoenix, AZ)
A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A tough and gritty defender that has also has a good overall skill level and ability to make plays. A good shooter from mid-range, but needs to add consistency to his perimeter shooting stroke from longer ranges but he is capable of making several shots in a row when he catches fire. A good rebounder for his size and plays athletic. A very good on–the-ball defender that is capable of becoming a lock-down defender over time. A very good slasher and finisher and is a good overall scorer in the open floor. A good ball handler that is capable of playing several positions on the floor with good overall versatility. An OK passer. His toughness as a player makes him a very intriguing prospect.
Eman Sertovic 6-4 SR SG Bella Vista Prep (Scottsdale, AZ)
Sertovic is a sharp-shooting guard prospect with unlimited range and a quick release on his shot. He has excellent consistency and, most times, does not even hit the rim. He is among the best pure shooters of the basketball in the country, and will improve a team's ability to make shots immediately. He loves the three-point shot, and does not score from many other places on the floor. He is a good ball handler and passer, but rarely can play the point position. An OK defender. Fundamentally sound. A solid rebounder. A specialist.
Alec Bryan 6-6 SR SF CGM Prep Academy (Phoenix, AZ)
Bryan is a skilled and mobile wing prospect with excellent size and is capable of playing several position s on the floor. He is an excellent shooter with unlimited range on his shot and likes to take shots from almost anywhere on the floor, and has a quick release on his shot. Can catch and shoot. A good ball handler and passer. Fundamentally sound and has a good overall feel for the game. Runs the floor hard and is a good finisher in the open floor. Can score with either hand. Loves the game and has excellent work ethic. A prospect on the rise with a bright future.
Jaret Allen 6-6 SR SG/SF Deer Valley HS (Glendale, AZ)
Allen (pictured left) is a long, thin and rangy wing prospect that is able to play several positions on the floor. His length is very intriguing as he looks as if we will continue to grow a great deal over time. A big-time shooter of the basketball with unlimited range on his shot, and a quick release that allows him to get his shot off almost at will. A big guard prospect with an advanced skill-set. Fundamentally sound. Able to score inside and out. As he adds more size to his thin physical frame, then we will see his game progress really nicely. A nice looking prospect that has a twin. Will improve a great deal over time as he has tremendous upside as a prospect. Father played professionally.
Fallou Cisse 6-7 SR PF AZ Compass Prep (Phoenix, AZ)
Fallou is another good prospect on the very talented AZ Compass Prep roster. He is a long, rangy and athletic player. Plays with a high motor and is hard to keep off the offensive glass. Uses his athleticism and long reach to pull down rebounds on both ends of the court. Cisse is also a very effective finisher at the rim, where he usually dunks everything or he can finish with either hand. With his size and length Cisse is a very good defender who can guard multiple positions. As he continues to improve his skillset he will be a very effective collegiate player.
Chase Courtney 6-9 SR PF/C Hillcrest Prep Academy (Phoenix, AZ)
Courtney is just beginning to realize his potential as a player and come around. After suffering injuries in the past, and as a upperclassman, Courtney is now beginning to get physically stronger and more athletic, which is now allowing him to finish much stronger around the rim and make plays in the paint. Has solid footwork and a good offensive repertoire, although he is still raw offensively, but it suggests that he will only continue to develop his overall offensive skillset over time. A solid shooter from mid-range, and a solid low-post scorer with a good jump hook. An active rebounder and a capable shotblocker. Runs the floor and finishes. Has upside. Son of former NBA player Joe Courtney.
Brandon Savage 6-7 SR PF Deer Valley HS (Glendale, AZ)
Savage is an active post prospect that competes on both ends of the floor hard and runs the floor very well. Still a little raw offensively, Savage has developed a great deal over the last year and is improving a great deal – suggesting that he will only continue to improve much more, as a result of his tremendous upside. Savage is capable of playing both post positions but is at his best as a stretch four-man. He has a very good jump hook and solid low post moves now with good overall footwork. He is also able to step outside and shoot the basketball with good confidence. A very good shotblocker and a very active rebounder that plays with good intensity. Has a bright future ahead of him.
John Olmstead 6-10 SR PF/C Morenci High School (Morenci, AZ)
Olmstead is a rare find in our state, as he possesses excellent size and length. He is also very skilled and is a good overall athlete, which caught my attention quickly. This young man has the potential to become a very serious recruiting target over the next year of development. I am impressed with Olmstead's ability to play the post position. He has a very good jump hook, which he can get off quite easily and seems to be very accurate with it, even while contested. He has good low-post footwork and, overall, has good hands and feet which allow him to run the floor quite well and finish plays around the paint. He runs the floor well, which is quite attractive for a low post player, and also suggests that he should develop nicely into his body as he continues to grow over time. Olmstead is also an active rebounder and shotblocker with good timing - keeping balls in play that he blocks. He will need to add some serious physical size to his very thin frame over time, and, as he matures physically and gets much stronger, he will see his game really develop. Because his skill level and level of mobility are already intact, as he adds strength he will maximize his potential as a player.
Miles Houston 6-9 SR PF Hamilton HS (Chandler, AZ)
Low post player with good size and length. OK athlete. Runs the floor hard and is a solid finisher around the basket. Solid shooter out to 15 feet. Solid low-post scorer. Solid rebounder. Capable shotblocker. Has very good potential over time though and should development into a solid low-major prospect.
John Price 6-8 SR PF Peoria HS (Peoria, AZ)
A nice, skilled 4-man prospect with excellent potential for the future. Price is a good-sized, lengthy stretch 4-man prospect with very good upside for the future. He will need to continue to work very hard, but, if he does, this young man has the potential to open many eyes. As a college prospect, Price runs the floor in a very similar manner and has long legs and good feet. He also has good hands and is a good finisher around the basket, keeping the basketball up high on rebounds. He is an active rebounder and also has solid low-post moves, although he is still raw and needs continued development as a scorer, but he should progress nicely over time. Has good overall toughness as a player. Ha some upside.
Dana “DJ” Hawkins 6-6 SR SG/SF Arizona Compass Prep (Chandler, AZ)
The younger brother of Arnecia and Armani Hawkins, whom both played high-major division-I basketball for college women's programs. Dana is a good-sized forward prospect that is able to play either forward spot on the floor currently, but would like to develop as a small forward full-time for the collegiate level. He has a strong, athletic frame and is able to make plays around the paint and from mid-range. He should develop his ability to stretch the defense over time, which will benefit him nicely as a college prospect. An active rebounder and defender, Hawkins is a high-energy prospect with a good competitive spirit. A good finisher. Has good potential for the future.
Takari Fields 6-7 SR PF Arizona Compass Prep (Chandler, AZ)
Fields is a strong low post player with a strong frame and lower body. He is a strong rebounder and finisher inside the paint. He enjoys physical contact and is a good finisher inside the paint, although he is still developing a great deal physically. A left-hander, Fields has a good jump hook now and still needs to develop his low-post moves to maximize his potential as a player. He is a solid shooter out to three-point distance. Needs to get quicker defensively. Runs the floor. A solid passer. Has very good upside with long arms. Has some upside.
Shekeedren Bryant 6-5 SR SF NFL Yet HS (Phoenix, AZ)
Fresh off leading his high school program to a state championship this year, Bryant is looking to continue his strong play on the aau/club circuit. He is off to an excellent start after turning in a very strong performance in this year's event. A versatile and also strong and athletic wing prospect that handles the ball and makes plays off the dribble for himself and others. A good creator with the ball in his hands. A good mid-range shooter that still needs to add more consistency to his shot from longer ranges. Very good in the open floor. A good finisher with superb athleticism for his age and size. An active rebounder. A good defender that plays with good intensity on the floor. Has a bright future ahead of him. A good sleeper prospect.
Jalen Williams 6-3 SR SG Shadow Mountain High School (Phoenix, AZ)
Jalen Williams recently transferred to the state of Arizona from Brookside Christian High School in Stockton, CA. He is another welcome addition to the state, as he is a serious division-I prospect with loads of athleticism and physical talent and will benefit the dynamic duo of Jaelen House and Javon Blacksher. He is a big-time dunker in traffic or in the half-court set, which is very impressive for his size. Williams is a highly competitive and focused individual that wears his game face the entire game. He is a good shooter with a nice left-handed shooting stroke. He has some range on his shot as well, and is a very good mid-range player. A good ball handler. OK passer. Active rebounder. Excellent finisher. An intriguing prospect.
Emad Elniel 6-5 SR SF Independence HS (Glendale, Arizona)
Elniel is a nice find this spring and summer, as he is a high-wire, lengthy athlete with a nice overall skill level which allows him to make plays that many players cannot. He is a rangy athlete that plays well in an up-tempo style of play. He pushes the ball up the floor and is capable of playing several positions on the floor. He is a good shooter with range on his shot. An active rebounder and a very good overall defender that plays passing lanes. He is a very good scorer in the open floor as well. A good overall sleeper prospect. A good sleeper prospect.
Ethan Spry 6-7 SR PF Scottsdale Christian HS (Scottsdale, AZ)
Spry is a skilled post prospect with excellent footwork around the basket, and an ability to score the basketball from inside and out. He is at his best around the basket and from 15 feet and in, where he is able to make plays at the rim, while getting defenders off balance and scoring around and through his defenders. He is very crafty inside the paint, and is able to score with either hand effectively around the basket. As a result, Spry is also able to get to the free-throw line quite often, where he is also a good free-throw shooter. Spry is a good shooter of the basketball also out to three-point distance, but he is at his best from mid-range. This young man is also a good rebounder that keeps the basketball up high on offensive conversions, and also outlets the basketball well on the defensive end to guards to start the offense. He is a good offensive rebounder. Spry is a good low-post defender, and is also able to defend players on the perimeter, as needed. He will see his time at the collegiate level as a four-man.
Blaise Threatt 6-3 SR SG Chaparral High School (Scottsdale, AZ)
Threatt is a big physical guard prospect with exceptional physical strength and thickness to his frame. He is a skilled ball handler and passer and able to make plays off the dribble. A solid finisher. Has good versatility. Good shooter with range. Needs to get quicker but has good explosion to get past defenders. A very good rebounder when he focuses on it. With hard work, he will become a good sleeper prospect.
CJ Nnorom 6-0 SR PG Cactus Shadows HS
Nrorom is a well-built, physical guard prospect with a superb shooting stroke with unlimited range, and a nice overall feel for scoring the basketball. He is very compact in size but has the body that suggests that he is ready now for the college level. He has good explosiveness off the dribble and a nice handle of the basketball, which allows him to make plays consistently off the dribble, while being able to stop and pop from almost anywhere on the floor. Shot the basketball very well in the evaluation, and also showed an advanced offensive skillset. He is a good finisher as well and can both guard positions on the floor. I would like to see him focus defensively, where, if he can become a stopper, then he could raise his level of play and exposure to college coaches. A good sleeper guard prospect for the 2019 class.
Isaiah Marin 6-4 SR SG Buckeye High School (Buckeye, AZ)
Marin is a talented and skilled guard prospect with a nice overall smoothness to his game. He is a very good shooter of the basketball that extends the defense and he is also able to make plays for himself and others off the dribble. While he still lacks true size on his physical frame, it could help to limit his overall college recruitment. Whichever level he lands at he will be able to help over time, as he has very good upside as a college prospect. A good looking prospect.
Connor Braun 6-7 SR PF Valley Christian HS (Chandler, AZ)
Braun is a nice-sized post prospect already with a very good body and an ability to run the floor nicely and make plays. He is an active low post player that can step outside and shoot the basketball with a soft touch. He needs to become more consistent in his shooting stroke, but he is aggressive and competes. An active rebounder. Capable shot-blocker. With hard work this young man will develop into a serious recruiting target over time. Has a bright future ahead.
Walter Talley 6-7 SR SF Planet Athlete (Chandler, AZ)
Talley is a skilled wing prospect with an ability to play inside and out and score the basketball from the perimeter. He is able to score effectively around the paint, and also has a nice ability to step outside and shoot the basketball as well with a good shooting stroke. He has very good versatility as a player - allowing him to play multiple positions on the floor, although he is at his best currently as a small forward or wing. Talley has a good handle of the basketball, so he is capable of playing in the open floor, but his best asset is his physical toughness and ability to rebound and finish around the basket. He has a very good mid-range game, which allows him to score effectively around the paint and from the perimeter. Talley is quicker than most power forwards on the perimeter, and he has the size to overpower most smaller players - taking them into the post as needed.
Isaiah Wilson 6-0 SR PG/SG Desert Vista High School (Phoenix, AZ)
Wilson has really grown on me over the past several months, and I love this young man's potential for the future as a combo-guard prospect. He has excellent athleticism and a nice motor that allows him to make plays for himself and others. A good shooter with range on his shot, and an effective scorer that can create and finish off the dribble. Excellent in transition. A very good on-the-ball defender that is capable of becoming a lock-down defender. Needs to become a point guard over time to maximize his college recruitment, since he is at his best as a scorer.
Cameron Katal 6-9 SR PF Westview HS (Avondale, AZ)
Low-post player with good size and length of body. Not overly athletic but knows how to use his length and physical size to make things happen on the floor. Runs the floor hard and is a solid finisher, although better physical strength would be very beneficial. Good low-post defender and shotblocker. An active rebounder. Still needs time to develop.
Josh Baker 6-2 SR PG/SG McClintock High School (Tempe, AZ)
Baker is the younger brother of former Tempe HS star guard and Pepperdine/San Jose State player Jordan Baker. Like his older brother, Josh has a knack for making shots and shooting the basketball with consistency and while being defended by opposing guards, able to make plays for himself and others off the dribble, although he enjoys scoring the basketball at a high rate. A high-scoring guard prospect that is also able to make plays on his own with an advanced offensive skillset that allows him to score from anywhere on the floor, and also get to the basket and finish plays with a smooth approach to the game. Over time, like many others, he will need to add physical size and strength to his thin frame to maximize his potential as a player for the collegiate level. He will be a combo-guard prospect at the next level that will be able to play as both guard positions over time.
J’Saan Strover 6-3 SR PG/SG Mountain Pointe High School (Phoenix, AZ)
Strover is a skilled guard prospect with a slick handle and an ability to slash and finish. He is very good in the open floor, and is a good finisher. Strover is very thin physically, but has a very athletic frame with nice upside. A solid shooter that needs to become more consistent from longer ranges. A solid passer. Good ball handler – capable of playing both guard positions. A very good defender that is capable of becoming a lock-down defender over time. Has very good potential as a player.
Robert Burries 5-9 SR PG Globe HS (Globe, AZ)
Burries is a high-scoring, lightning quick guard prospect with a superb handle of the basketball and a nice left-handed shooting stroke. He has a very quick release on his shot and is able to make shots from anywhere on the floor. Burries scored 68 points as a freshman in a game, and is among the best scorers of the basketball in the West, especially for his size. Of Native-American descent (Apache), Burries is a nice guard prospect with an advanced offensive skillset. While still very small in size and stature, Birries will need to add serious physical size to compete with bigger guards over time. A very good ball handler and passer that sees the floor. Excellent finisher. A very good defender. Has quick hands and feet.
Rashaan Toombs 6-2 SR PG/SG Mountain Pointe High School (Phoenix, AZ)
Rashaan is a solid senior guard prospect that compliments Jalen Graham very well at Mountain Pointe. He is a good athlete at the guard position who also has the ability to make plays for himself and his teammates. Has the ability to finish at the rim, knock down a floater or mid-range pull up and is a capable three point shooter as well. He is also a very scrappy defender who gives other guards problems. He showed the ability to make others better as well, and get them open looks off of his play making ability. He is a very intriguing prospect that will only get better.
Mari Jones 6-0 SR PG/SG Desert Edge HS (Goodyear, AZ)
Jones is a high-scoring guard prospect with a nice motor and athleticism. The son of former University of Indiana standout Jay Edwards, Jones is a sure-fire top-prospect for the future. A good ball handler and passer, but is at his best when scoring the basketball. A combo-guard prospect. Has very good lateral quickness, and could become a lock-down defender over time. Pushes the basketball up the floor. A good finisher in traffic. Creates his own shot and also sees the floor. A young prospect with a bright future.
Jalen Allen 6-6 SR SF Deer Valley HS (Glendale, AZ)
Allen (pictured right) is a long, thin and rangy wing prospect that is able to play several positions on the floor. His length is very intriguing as he looks as if we will continue to grow a great deal over time. Unlike his twin brother, Jalen is not as far along physically and in his skillset, but he is still very good. Jalen is a good mid-range shooter and scorer, but still needs to add consistency from longer ranges. Fundamentally sound. Able to score inside and out. As he adds more size to his thin physical frame, then we will see his game progress really nicely. A nice looking prospect that has a twin. Will improve a great deal over the next two years of high school. Father played professionally.
Vean Simon 6-2 SR PG/SG Chandler High School (Chandler, AZ)
Simon is a good ball handler and passer of the ball, and is capable of playing both guard positions on the floor. A good shooter of the basketball with some range on his shot. Needs to be more consistent from longer ranges to maximize his potential as a player. Has a good mid-range game, and ability to make plays off the dribble for himself and others. A versatile guard prospect. A good ball handler. A good passer that sees the floor. A solid on-the-ball defender with solid lateral quickness. Needs to get physically stronger and more explosive to reach his full potential as a player. A solid overall prospect that could make a significant jump in our rankings with continued hard work and development.
Cory Barnes 5-foot-8 SR PG Poston Butte HS (Chandler, AZ)
Barnes is a very skilled and crafty young point guard prospect with an excellent handle of the basketball and an ability to make plays for himself or others off the dribble. He can get into the lane quite easily and then set up a teammate with a pass, or look to finish himself. Needs to add physical size to his frame to maximize his potential, but he has time. Excellent quickness. A good shooter with range. Has an excellent feel.
Jalen Hopkins 6-3 SR SG Perry HS (Gilbert, AZ)
The younger brother of current Fresno State player Jaron Hopkins, Jalen is much different as a player than Jaron was at the same point, but he is making a case for himself now as a player too. Hopkins is a slashing guard prospect with good quickness and athleticism. He is also a good scorer. A good ball handler and passer. A very good defender. Has the potential to become a serious division-I prospect.
Tramane Lee 6-4 SR SG Sierra Linda HS (Glendale, AZ)
Lee is a very skilled shooter with nice range on his shot. He uses his nice length of body to make slashing plays and drives to the basket, where he is a good finisher. A long, athletic slasher that is good in the open court. A good finisher. Good ball handler and driver in the lane. Solid passer. Has very good potential for the near future. Really like this young man's upside.
Shane Van Huizen 5-10 SR PG Arizona Compass Prep (Chandler, AZ)
A member of a smaller charter school in Prescott, this young man is a lesser known prospect by basketball enthusiasts in the state, but he is among the better guard prospects in the class. A skilled point guard prospect that create for others and has the ability to make plays off the dribble. He is also a good shooter with range on his shot, and is a good finisher in the painted area of the floor. A good ball handler and passer that sees the floor. A good defender with excellent toughness. Has good potential to develop into a serious college prospect.
